Floor rack for refrigerator cars



V. E. slssoN FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS .Feb. 14, 1939.

'5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1937 Feb. 14, 1939. v.1-:.s|ssoN 2,147,129

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Oct. 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. v. E. SISSON ,1

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Oct. 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 iumreo STATES PATENT OFFICE BACK. FOB FK GEE TQB' CA Vinton E. sisson, Winnetkah 111., assignor, by

to f Standard Railwa y Equipment' Maiiufacturing Company, a cofiio rationiof Delaware eaters .qctpber 7, 1937, Serial No. 167,771 Claims. (01. 105-315) dtis eto a wate i e i as o a with certain'elements' of the car to establish a fi l li Q l fi i 9i i P g th r ler r giant .ch mbef hd m d n lcs a' m nt to 9 991 the ladin gainthe car hereihafter den e-fissi A o ira' 9 1 rfi su r-t la n e s? li laii it th n u a d fl q of so ihte lit 'desirable to, allow at, least some of the me ed ice to, remain .on'theinsulated floor of the b n he. em i e- 0 opriod u h N atig n between the outside of the car and the ei 'ii ei'h low t ibremindu m n als to iurthercpolf the Qircula'ting' air/ The melted ice v temp "rature ,of about 32? Fahrenheit when Ii 2. 1 i i used and as low as 14 ia regl ei wh n salt is m xed with t e ump e meg t an titel perm mne two d n v S- ser move ments of the car, that l s, the stopping and starting, as well as the swaying movementjcause the melted ice to he thrown against the foraminous 1 u cris en istees stumisi resh d .Q.. 1, f nibie ns a id p a h hrou h e nin the floraminous floor and against the ladin i g. in package lading the cQ i tainers would be Sgiled and in loose lading such dampness might the qmm g t -f An object of the invention is, to position the refrigerant ice so that the melted'ice (water) W l drain 99. 1 he n a ed f oo be o h iqj el bes fi er and t n uct th Menmo: 1 liatth eni elted'ice(water) willno't splash PIQH h th ,i am nousfin 7 Another object is to provide a foraminous floor qqm a isig tw series i nara l a s i spaced apart planes which are positioned relative to each an fQ meq t PreY nt ei alm v m t of the ashing the melted ice thmu h t e 9 3 A 9. 5 19 Hus le ob e is o p os e rs fQ 'SllPHQ t l he s a s ang to ro.- vi i a th in erse tio s. of t e s ats an stri e t Pr ven the lQ Q PIJQ BQJ' mnv m s floor to. support the lading in transit and also the more concentrated load of a loaded truck or wheeled platform carrying the lading into'or out of the car. 1

n the ra i 7 I Figs. 1 and 2 show the relation of my improved floor rack to the other elements of a refrigerator c r b guide th em latin aii m t re r erant, chamber to the lading compartment for cooling a lading as hereinafter described.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show.modifications of one form of my invention hereinafter described, wherein means are associated vwith the stringers to coverthe spaces between adjacent slats. adjacent the stringers to prevent splashing of melted ice through the foraminous floor.

Fi s. 7-10 inclusive show a modification wherein the "foraminous floor comprises two groups of spaced apart slats in parallel planes and in overlappingrrelation withchannel members adjacent the stringers to prevent melted ice from splashing through the foraminous floor.

"Figs. 11-15 inclusive show a modification of the construction shown in Figs. 7-10 inclusive.

:I jrthe "form of my invention illustrated the refrigerator car is provided with a bulkhead 2 separating the refrigerant chamber 3 from the lading compartment 4. The bulkhead 2 is provided with an aperture 5 adjacent the floor 6 of the car and an aperture 1 adjacent the ceiling 8 oj the car with a solid wall 9 therebetween.

' A refrigerant is supported by the ice supporting means l 2 in the refrigerant chamber 3 in spaced relation to the floor 6 of the car and the basket (or netting) 13 spaces the refrigerant from the end wall M and bulkhead 2 to provide the fines |6--l1. foraminous floor supports the lading so as to provide the space 2 which communicates with the fiues Iii-I1. A refrigerant, such as ice in the refrigerant chamber, induces a convection circulation of air from the flues l6l1, through the flue space 2!] and the apertures 2| in the floor rack, and as the air is warmed by the lading, it rises and passes through the bulkhead upper opening 1, and thence through the flues l6l'l,

The apertured floor rack or' and being cooled by the refrigerant, repeats the convection cycle.

When a stove or other heater is placed in the refrigerant chamber a convection circulation of air is induced in the opposite direction because the air warmed by the heater rises and falls when cooled by the lading.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive the foraminous floor |8 comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats 25 supported by stringers 25 upon the insulated floor 6 of the car, which stringersare preferably positioned parallel to the direction of movement of the circulating air and the spaced apart slats 25 extend normally to the stringers 26, The refrigerating circulating air passes through the spaces 2'! between the slats. Screws, bolts, nails or any other securing means may be used.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the channel shape member is positioned between each stringer 26 and the slats 25 with the web 3| thereof resting upon the stringer 26 and the depending flanges 32 spaced from the stringer so that the water being splashed against the stringer will be caught by the depending flanges and not allowed to pass through the spaces 21 between the slats.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the members 36 are secured to each side of the stringer 26 which cover the spaces 21 between adjacent slats 25 to stop the splashing water.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 short members 40 are secured to the stringer 26 in the spaces 2'! between adjacent slats 25 which extend beyond both sides of the stringer to stop the splashing water. The upper surfaces 4| of these members are preferably sloped to provide a watershed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the stringer 45 is preferably made of two metallic strips of metal secured together at 46 (preferably by welding) and formed to provide horizontally disposed portions 41 supporting the slats 25 and a substantially vertical portion 48 supporting the horizontal portions 41 upon the insulated floor 6 with the horizontal portions 41 having depending flanges 49 to stop splashing water. The arms of the vertical portion preferably diverge for stability.

In the modifications of my invention shown in Figs. 7-15 inclusive the foraminous floor l8 comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats 60 in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats 6| in a substantially parallel plane With the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces 62-63 between the slats in the other plane and preferably in overlapping relation therewith sothat the service movements of the car will not cause the melted ice to splash through the spaces 62 between the slats. These slats may be made of wood or formed from metallic sheets or some may be wood and others metal. Any convenient stringer may be used to support the slats in both of said planes, which stringers preferably extend normally to the slats.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 7-10 inclusive the stringers 65 are provided with upper surfaces'56 supporting the medial portion of the upper slats 60 and lower surfaces 61 supporting the lower slats 6| so that a single stringer supports the slats in both the upper and lower planes. In this modification the upper slats 60 are made of Wood and the lower slats 6| are made of metallic sheet provided with depending stiffening flanges 68, which flanges 68 also act as bafiles to stop splashing water. Grooves 69 are provided for the flanges 68. I also provide anti-splash pieces Ill extending parallel to the slats 606| (and preferably between the slats in different planes) at the intersections of the slats with the stringers 65. These anti-splash pieces extend a relatively short distance on each side of the stringer 65 so as to prevent water from splashing against the stringer and re-splashing through the spaces 62 between the slats. These anti-splash pieces preferably support the margins ll of the upper slats upon the stringers. In this modification I have also shown a channel shape member I3 lying over the top of the stringer, as shown more fully in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is a section through the lower slat 6 I, while Fig. 9 is a section through the upper slat 60.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11-14 inclusive the anti-splash pieces, instead of being made of a wooden strip, as shown in Fig. 10, comprises a U-shape member resting in the notch 8| in the stringer 82 and extending beyond both sides of the stringer (at 83) which U-shape member is provided with flanges 84 projecting lengthwise of the stringer 82 to provide baflles for splashing water. Fig. 11 shows the notched stringer. Fig. 12 shows the anti-splash member 80 in place. Fig. 13 shows the lower slat 84 also in position, and Fig. 14 shows the construction of The modification shown in Fig. 15 shows the slats 9| made of metallic sheets, with the slats 90 in the upper plane formed with stiffening depending marginal flanges 92 and with the slats 9| in the lower plane provided with upstanding marginal flanges 93; that is, each series of slats is provided with flanges projecting toward the slats in the other series so that flanges cooperate to provide a baffling structure against the splashing water. shown. All slats are supported by the stringer 95.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors. and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane and in overlapping relation therewith whereby the service movements of the car will not cause the melted ice to splash through the spaces between the slats.

2. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor,

a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will An anti-splash piece 95 is 45 drain upon said insulated floor, said foramlnous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane and in overlapping relation therewith, the slats in one of said planes each formed with stifiening marginal flanges projecting toward the slats in the other of said planes and positioned to form bafiles whereby the service movements of the car will not cause the melted ice to splash through the spaces between the slats.

3. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane and in overlapping relation therewith, each of said slats formed with stiffening marginal flanges projecting toward the slats in the other of said planes and positioned to form baffles, the flanges of the slats in one plane being in overlapping relation with the flanges of the slats in the other plane whereby the service movements of the car will not cause the melted ice to splash through the spaces between the slats.

4. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane, a stringer extending normally to said slats with upper surfaces supporting the medical portions of said upper slats and lower surfaces supporting said lower slats, and anti-splash pieces extending parallel to said slats and supporting the margins of the upper slats upon the stringer, said anti-splash pieces extending a relatively short distance on each side of the stringer.

5. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor,

a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous fioor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in asubstantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane, a stringer extending normally to and supporting said slats, and means to prevent said melted ice from splashing against said stringer and passing through the foraminous floor between the slats.

6. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor,

a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane, a stringer extending normally to and supporting the slats in both of said planes and anti-splash pieces between adjacent slats in different planes at the intersections of said slats with said stringer to prevent said melted ice from splashing against said stringer and passing through the foraminous floor between the slats.

7. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors and ice associated with other elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon said insulated floor, said foraminous floor comprising a plurality of spaced apart slats in one plane in spaced relation to a plurality of spaced apart slats in a substantially parallel plane with the slats in each plane being opposite the spaces between the slats in the other plane, a stringer extending normally to and supporting the slats in both of said planes, and an inverted channel shaped member having the web thereof between the stringer and the slats in the upper plane and the depending flanges thereof spaced away from the stringer whereby said member prevents the melted ice from splashing against the stringer and resplashing through the spaces between the slats in the upper plane.

VINTON E. SISSON. 

